Polishing machine



March 16, 1943. L. H. STERNEH ETAL 2,313,181

' POLISHING MACHINE 1 Filed NovJ. 18, 1941 5 She eLts-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS March '16, 19 43.

L. H. STERNE ET AL POLISHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, I941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS March 16, 1943.

L. H. STERNE EI'AL POLISHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 18, 1941 5- Sheets-Sheet 3 "IHI M I 1' M ll H INVE T-ORS ATTORNEYS March 16, 1943. L H. STERNE ETAL 2,313,731

. POLISHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v TAT? ATTORNEYS m} 16,- 1943. L. H. STEM: mp 2,313 781 POLISHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I ,4 INQQEQTORS BYW z ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 16, 1943 OLISHING MACHINE Leopold H. Sterne, New York, N. Y., and Winfred N. Lurcott, Elizabeth, N. J.; said Lurco'tt assignor to said Sterne Application November 18', 1941, Serial N 0. 419,536

18 Claims.

This invention relates to machinesof the type covered by U. S. Patent to Joseph G. C. Mantle, No. 1,313,402 for grinding and polishing gems, such as diamonds and other bodies requiring similar operations. The invention will be illustrated and described in connection with a machine more particularly designed for the grinding and polishing of diamonds on a rotary lap.

Among :the objects of the present invention are improved and simplified mechanism for feeding the diamond to the rotary lap and automatically withdrawing the diamond therefrom after the diamond has been ground or polishedto a predetermined extent, improved and simplified mechanismfor locating the diamond at different radial positions on the surface of the rotary lap and also improved and simplified mechanism for effecting reciprocation of the diamond radiallycf the rotary lap or polishing operation.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device ing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 55 of Fig. 6; I

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1*! of Fig. 2;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Fig. 7 in different positions of operation;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l 0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig, 12 is a fragmentary detail view, and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 7 of a modification.

A grinding wheel or rotary lap I0 is carried by a vertical shaft II mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) and driven by any suitable source of power. A table-or bench l2 has a substantially circular recess in which the wheel I 0 is located.

A main frame I3 is mounted on the bench l2 during the grinding embodyand is provided with pivot pins l4 and I5, the

pin 15 being adjustable toward and away from the pin M by reason of being screw-threaded into the frame. A lock nut I6 is provided on the pin l5 for holding the pin IS in any position of adjustment.

A frame piece I1 is journalled in the main frame by means of the pivot pins l4 and I5 for oscillation about a horizontal axis parallel to the plane of the grinding wheel It). A lever [3 having a handle I 9 is pivoted on an upright projection 20 on the frame piece H. The lever I 8 is adapted to engage a short lever 2| on a rocking shaft 22 journalled in the upright projection 20. At the remaining end of the rocking shaft 22 is provided a short lever 23 adapted to engage a pin 24 slidably mounted through the frame piece I! and having its lower end adapted to engage the outer'end of a lever 25, A springpressed plunger 26 in the main frame l3 normally presses the lever upwardly. The lever 25 is pivoted to the main frame at 21 and is provided with a hooked end 28 adapted to engage the ends of a lug 29 when normally pressed upwardly by the plunger 26, the lug 29 being integral with the frame piece I! so that when the hooked end 28 engages the lug 29, it is impossible to rotate the frame piece I l upwardly, the same being locked by the engagement of the hooked end 28 with the lug 29. However, when the handle is thrown clockwise, it acts upon the lever 2| of the rocker shaft 22 to cause the lever 23 to press the pin 24 downward, which forces the lever 25 out of engagement with the lug 29 and thereupon further movement of the handle I 9 in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, causes the frame piece I! to be rotated in clockwise direction. This movement may be continued until the other end of the lug 29' abuts the outer portion of the hooked end 28 of the lever 25, whereupon the parts will be maintained in the position just described. A reverse movement of the handle I8 will bring the parts back into the position shown in Fig. 2.

The frame piece I1 is provided with a dovetail guide member 30 provided with a longitudinal groove. In this groove is slidably mounted a member 31 having a central bore in which is arranged a feed screw 32 at one end of which is provided an exposed hexagonal head 33 by means of which rotation of the feed screw is effected through use of a suitable tool having a socket to receive the head 33. The member 3! carries a lug 34 having an aperture in which is received the pivot pin [4. In the periphery of the lug 34 is provided a slot 35 transverse oi the member 3| and in this slot is received a pin 36 located at the upper end of a vertical shaft .3! in offset relation to the axis of the shaft. At the lower end of the shaft 31 is a worm wheel 38 which meshes with a worm 39 at the end of a horizontal shaft 4!] supported by the main that rotation of the feed screw 32 effects horizontal adjustment of the casing 43 relative to the 1 axis of the grinding wheel I6.

The casing 43 is provided with a removable cover M. The casing is provided with an extension 48 having a vertical passageway 49 which communicates with the interior of the casing over a portion of its length as shown in Figs. I to 9 inclusive. A tube 56 is slidably mounted in the casing and is held against rotary movement by a key 5| supported by the projection 48 and extending through the slot 52 in the tube. A rod 53 is slidablymounted in the tube 56 and is held against rotational movement by the key 5| which projects into the slot 54 in the rod. The rod 53 is of less length than the tube 56 and is provided with a central bore terminating short of its lower end, such bore comprising three portions 55, 56 and 51 of different diameter. An adjustment screw 58 is threaded into the upper end of the bore portion 55 with the under surface of its head 58a. contacting the upper end of the tube 56.

The bore portion 56 contains a helical spring 59, one end of which engages the lower end of the bore portion 5a and the other end of which engages the head 66a. of a rod 66 extending through th bore portions 56 and 51. In the lower end of the tube 56 is arranged a plug 6| which is rotatable in the tube and through which the rod 66 extends. The lower end of the plug BI is provided with a recess receiving a nut 62 screwed on to the end of the rod 66 and serving to hold the rod 53 and the plug 6I in assembled relation to the tube 56. The spring 59 tends to draw the.

rod 53 downwardly so that the under surface of the head 58a. is at all times maintained in contact with th top end of the tube 50 irrespective of the vertical adjustment of the head relative to the rod 53.

A pair of levers 64 and 65 are mounted on pivot pins 66 and 61 in the casing 43, the pivot pins being arranged adjacent the bore 49 and being in substantial vertical alinement. The left end of each of the levers 64 and 65 extends into a.

recess 68 in the rod 53. Also supported by the pivot pin 61 is a lever I6 consisting of two plates II arranged at opposite sides of the lever 65 and being interjoined by a cross bar I2. An arm I3 is pivotally supported from the wall of the cas ing 43 near the bottom thereof and is provided with an adjustment member "I4 for regulating the height of the free end of the arm I3 above the bottom of the casing. The arm I3 supports a helical spring I5 on the top of which is arranged a cap I6 having extensions 11 projecting upwardly with each extension being connected to one plate II. The spring I5 tends to oppose downward movement of the lever I6 from a position. of rest and restore said lever to its position of rest after being moved downward.

.A .bell crank lever I6 is pivotally supported by a pin I9 extending between the arms II with a long arm extending substantially horizontally .anda short arm extending substantially vertically. The end of the vertical arm is provided with a hook 86 and a pin 8| underlies the long arm to limit downward movement thereof. A lever 82 i pivotally supported by a pin 83 extending between the plates II of the lever 16 and has a reverse bend to the left of the pivot pin for the purpos of establishing one end of the lever below the left end of the bell crank lever I8 in one position of the two levers. A pin 84 is provided to limit clockwise rotation of the lever 82. The right end of the lever 82 pivotally supports an arm 85, the lower end of which is provided with a shoulder 86 adapted for engagement with a stop 81 extending between the plates II. The upper end of the arm 85 is adapted to project into the path of a pin 88 carried by a gear wheel 89 mounted on a shaft 96 journalled in the casing 43.

The shaft 96 also is provided with a pinion 6| which meshes with a gear 92 mounted on a shaft 93 journalled in the casing 43. The shaft 93 also is providedwith a pinion 94 which meshes with .a gear segment 95 at the right end of the lever 54. A spring 96 on the shaft 96 tends to effect clockwise rotation of the wheel 89 to a position of rest upon counter-clockwise movement of the wheel from such position. The shaft 96 extends through the cover 41 and is equipped at its end with a pointer 91 and on the cover 41 is a dial 98 provided with indicia representing thousandths of an inch. Th gear 89 meshes With a pinion 99 supported by a shaft I66 journalled in the casing 43 and arm I6I is pivoted centrally to the shaft I66 by pin I6Ia. A cylinder I62 is provided within the casing coaxial with the shaft I66. The arm I6I is greater in length than the interior diameter. of the cylinder I62 and is tilted so that one end extends into the cylinder. The arrangement of the arm I6I is such that rotation of the shaft I66 tends to arrange the arm I6I perpendicular to the axis of the shaft under centrifugal force, thereby forcing one end of the arm into contact with the inner surface of the cylinder I62 to act as a brake and limit the rotational speed of the shaft I66.

When, as will later be explained, the lever I6 is in the position shown in Fig. 8, the spring I5 exerts'a force on the bar 53 tending to effect downward movement of the tube 56. Also, when as will later be explained, the lever 64 is in the position shown in Fig. 9, the spring 96 exerts a force on the bar 53 tending to effect upward movement thereof. The relation of the strengths of the springs I5 and 96 is such that the downward force applied to the bar is greater than the upward force so that when both forces are applied; the resulting movement of the tube is the lower end of the arm upon clockwise rotation of the lever I6. Also, at the outer end of the lever 65 is provided a pivoted latch I64 for engagement by the hook 86 to interconnect the levers 65 and I6. The latch I64 is provided with a slot I64a into which projects a pinQIMb carried by the lever 65. The latch I64 is normally held in'the position shown in Fig. 12 by gravity and further counterclockwise rotation of the latch is prevented by the pin and slot arrangement.

A shaft I05 is journalle'd in the wall of the casing and is provided with a handle I06 in the form of a yoke with the yoke preferably being offset relative to the axis of the shaft. A feed screw I! is journalled in the yoke and on the feed screw I 0'! is arranged a weight I08 having a sliding connection with the yoke. The inner end of the shaft I has a crank arm 108 at the end of which is provided a pin IIO. A block III .is rotatably supported by the pin I09 and is received in a slot I I2 in the cross member I2 of the lever I 0. Rotation of the shaft I05 therefore is effective to actuate the lever I0. A diamond holder H3 preferably of the structure shown in Patent No. 1,313,402 is carried by the plug 6|.

Fig. 7 illustrates the arrangement of the various parts prior to the beginning of a grinding operation. With the parts in this position, the

handle I06 is in horizontal position with the weight I08 opposing movement'thereof from such position. The gear wheel 89 is in such position 1 that the dial indicates the maximum reading. The levers 65 and I0 are disconnected while the lever 82 is at the limit of its clockwise movement and the lever I8 is at the limit of its counterclockwise movement. In order to bring the diamond into operative relation to the grinding wheel, the handle I06 is rotated into vertical position shown in Fig. 2, thereby causing downward movement of the lever I0 into the position shown in Fig. 8, such downward movement being effected through the medium of the shaft I05, crankarm I09, pin IIO, block I II and cross-bar 72. Such downward movement compresses the spring I5 and the hook 80 is directed by the guide I03 into engagement with the latch I04 =with consequent clockwise rotation of the latch I04 to permit the hook 80 to underlie the bottom edge of the latch whereupon the latch assumes the position shown in Fig. 12 and in Fig. 8, thereby interconnecting the levers 65 and I0. Concurrently, the left end of the lever I8 is lifted away from the pin 8I. Following such action, the arm 85 is lifted relative to the lever I0 and slightly rotated by engagement with the guide I03 to cause the shoulder 86 to engage with the stop 8! and to swing the lever 82 counterclockwise to locate the left end thereof under the left end of the lever I8. thereby locking the hook 80 n engagement with the latch I04. Upon release of the handle I06, the levers II and I55 move upwardly under the influence of the spring I5 and counter-clockwise movement of the lever 15 causes downward movement of the rod 53 which in turn causes counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 64. Such movement of the lever 64 results in clockwise rotation of the gear wheel 88, the rotational speed of which is controlled by the brake arm IM and in placing the spring 96 under tension. The upward movement of the lever I0 also locates the upper end of the arm 85 in the path of the pin 88. Downward movement of the bar 53 iscommunicated to the diamond holder II3 through the head 58a of the screw 58,the tube and the plug SI, and is continued until the Din 88 engages the top end of the arm 85, whereupon the latter is rocked to disengage the shoulder 86 from the detent 81, thereby. allowing the lever 88 to swing clockwise under the influence of gravity to release the bell crank lever 18 which swings counter-clockwise to release the lever 65. The spring .15 no longer exerts a downward force on the rod 53 through the lever 16.5 and the spring now becomes effective to cause clockwise rotation of the lever 64 to lift the bar 53 .and tube 50 to move the diamond away from the wheel. The position of the pin '88 when the diamond engages the wheel is regulated by the screw 58 which adjusts the position of the bar 53 in the tube 5.0. Adjustment of the rod 53 in the tube 50 may be effected either before or after the diamond is brought into engagement with the grinding wheel and the adjustment is made such that the pin 88 will engage the arm when the diamond has been ground to a desired extent.

. The correct adjustment of the rod 53'to effect the desired extent of grinding is determined by reference to the dial 88. This dial is suitably calibrated that with the diamond engagin the wheel I0, the reading of the dial at the pointer '91 gives the number of thousandths of an inch that the diamond must be ground to bring the pin 88 into tripping relation to the arm 85.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 13. a different form of interconnection is provided between the levers 65 and 10. A latch II 4 is pivoted to the lever 65 and a spring II5 tends to rot-ate the latch counter-clockwise. At the upper end of the latch I I4 is a hook which is adapted to engage a shoulder II 6 formed on the le-' ver I0. The latch I50 is disengaged from the shoulder H6 by electromagnetic means. A solenoid II 1 has an armature II8 which, when the levers 65 and I0 are in the position shown in Fig. 13 (corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 9) has its lower end engaging the left side of the latch II4. In series with the solenoid winding is a pair of contacts II9 which are springbiased away from each other so that the solenoid circuit is normally open. One contact H9 is carried by. a resilient arm I20 extending into the path of the pin 88 of the gear wheel 89. The pin is effective to move the arm I20 to close the contacts 9, thereby energizing the solenoid to pull the armature II8 rightward thereby disengaging the latch I I4 from the shoulder II6 to disconnect the arm 85 from the arm F0 as previously described in connection with the modification illustrated in Fig. 7.

The wheel I0 is provided with several concenitrio bands of different coarseness abrasive, the

outer band usually being the coarsest and the abrasive becoming progressively less coarse in the bands nearer the center of the wheel. The diamond is brought into grinding relation with the several abrasive bands by rotation of the feed screw 32 to adjust the casing 43 radially of the grinding wheel.

During the grinding operation, the diamond is caused to move back and forth across an abrasive band by reciprocation of the member 3I. Such reciprocation is effected through the medium of the pin 36 which is moved in a circular orbit by the shaft e1 by the motor 42 and extends into the slot 35.

The diamond may be swung up away from the grinding wheel for inspection purposes without in any way changing any of the adjustments. Suchswinging of the diamond is accomplished by operation of the handle I9 in the manner previously described to rotate the frame piece I I. The framepiece carries with it the casing 33 and the various parts supported thereby and the pin 36 remains projected into the slot 35.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described,

a casing, a member slidably supported bysaid casing, a first and a second lever pivoted in said casing, interconnections between one end of each lever and said member, means applying force to said first lever tending to move said member in one direction, means applying a greater force to said second lever tending to move said member in the opposite direction, and means actuatable upon predetermined extent of movement of said first lever to render inoperative said greaterforceapplying means.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a first member slidably supported by said casing, a second member adjustably attached to said first member, a first and a second lever pivoted in said casing, interconnections between one end of each lever and said second member, means applying force to said first lever tending to move said first member in one direction, means applying a greater force to said second lever tending to move said first member in the opposite direction, means actuatable upon a predetermined extent of movement of said first lever to said member in one direction, means applying a greater force to said third lever tending to move said member in the opposite direction, and means actuatable upon a predetermined extent of movement of said first lever to release the interconnection between said second and third levers.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a first member slidably supported by said casing, a second member adjustably attached to said first member, a first lever pivoted in said casing, a second and a third lever coaxially pivoted in said casing, a releasable interconnection between said second lever and said third lever for effecting unitary movement thereof, means applying force to said first lever tending-to move said first member in one direction, means applying a greater force to said third lever tending to move said first member in the opposite direction, and means actuatable upon a predetermined extent of movement of said first lever to release the interconnection between said second and third levers.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a tube slidably supported by said casing and having a longitudinal slot, a first and a second lever pivoted in said casing with one end of each lever extending into said slot, in-tercon-' nection between said lever ends and said tube,

means applying force to said first lever tending to move said tube in one direction, means apply- 7 ing a greater force to said second lever tending to move said tube in the opposite direction, and

means actuatable upon'a predetermined extent of movement of said first lever to render inoperative said greater force-applying means; 1

6.- In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a tube slidably supported by said casing and having a longitudinal slot, a member within said tube adjustably attached theret'o'an'd one end of each'lever projecting through said tube slot into said member recess, means applying force to said first lever tending to move said member in one direction; means applying a greater force to said second lever tending to move said member in the opposite direction, and means actuatable upon a predetermined extent of movement of said first lever to render inoperative said greater force-applying means.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a tube slidably supported by said casing and having a longitudinal slot, a first lever pivoted in said casing, a second and a third lever coaxially rpivoted in said casing, said first and second levers each having one end projecting into said tube through said slot, interconnections therebetween with said tube, a releasable interconnection between said second and third levers, means applying force to said first lever tendin to move said tube in one direction, means applying a lesser force to said third lever tending to move said tube in the opposite direction, and means actuatable upon a predetermined extent of movement of said first lever to release the interconnection between said second and third levers.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a tube slidably supported by said casing and having a longitudinal slot, a member within said tube adjustably attached thereto and having a recess in alinement with the tube slot, a first lever pivoted in said casing, a second and athird lever coaxially pivoted in said casing, said first and second levers each having one end extending through said tube slot into said member recess, a releasable interconnection between said second and third levers for efiecting unitary movement thereof, means applying force to said first lever tending to move said. member in one direction, means applying a greater force to said third lever tending to move said member in the opposite direction, and means actuatable upon a predetermined extent of movement of said first lever to release the interconnection between said second and third levers.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a member slidably supported by said casing, a first and a second lever pivoted in said casing, interconnections between one end of each lever and said member, a rotatable member, driving connections between said first lever and said rotatable member, means applying force to said first lever tending to move said slidable member in one direction, means applying greater force to said second lever tending to move said slidable member in the opposite directiom'and means actuated by a predetermined extent of'movement of said rotatable member to render inoperative said greater force applying means.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a member slidably supported by said casing, afirst lever pivoted in said casing, a sec- 0nd and" a third lever coaxially pivoted in said casing, means including a pivoted arm releasably interconnecting said second and third levers for unitary movement, interconnections between said slidable member and one end of each of said first and second levers, means applying force to said first lever tending to move said slidable member in one direction", means applying a greater io'rc'eto' said third lever .tending to move said having a recess in alinement with said slot, a first and a'second lever pivoted in said casing ,with:

.slidable member-in the opposite-direction, a rotatable member, driving connections between said rotatable member and said first lever, and a pin on said rotatable memberengageable'with said arm on a predetermined extent of movement of said rotatable member to release the interconnection between said second and third levers.

11. In the apparatus according to claim 3, means including a handle exterior of the casing for effecting movement of said third lever in opposition to said greater force-applying means, and means for effecting automatic interconnection of said second and third levers upon such movement of said third lever.

12. In the apparatus according to claim 4, means including a handle exterior of the casing for effecting movement of said third lever in oppositio to said greater force-applying means, and means for effecting automatic interconnection of said second and third levers upon such movement of said third lever.

13. In the apparatus according to claim 7, means including a handle exterior of the casing for effecting movement of said third lever in opposition to said greater force-applying means, and means for effecting automatic interconnection of said second and third levers upon such movement of said third lever.

14. In the apparatus according to claim 8, means including a handle exterior of the casing for effecting movement of said third lever in opposition to said greater force-applying means, and means for effecting automatic interconnection of said second and third levers upon such movement of said third lever.

15. In the apparatus according to claim 10, means including a handle exterior of the casing for effecting movement of said third lever in opposition to said greater force-applying means, and means for effecting automatic interconnection of said second and third levers upon such movement of said third lever.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotatable wheel, a frame overlying said wheel, pivot pins supported by said frame, a frame piece rotatably supported by said pivot pins, a member slidably supported by said frame piece for reciprocation radially of said wheel, a lug carried by said member and having an aperture receiving one pivot pin and having a slot transverse to said pin axis, a rotatable shaft having at one end an eccentric pin projecting into said slot, driving means for said shaft, and a diamond carrier supported by said member.

1'7. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotatable wheel, a frame overlying said wheel, pivot pins supported by said frame, a frame piece rotatably supported by said pivot pins, a member slidably supported by said frame piece for reciprocation radially of said wheel, a lug carried by said member and having an aperture receiving one pivot pin and having a slot transverse to said pin axis, a rotatable shaft having at one end an eccentric pin projecting into said slot, driving means for said shaft, a diamond carrier slidably supported by said member and including an interiorly threaded projection, and a feed screw rotatably supported by said member in operative engagement with said projection, said feed screw having an exposed portion for eifecting rotation thereof.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotatable wheel, a frame overlying said wheel, pivot pins supported by said frame, a frame piece rotatably supported by said pivot pins, a member slidably supported by said frame piece for reciprocation radially of said wheel, a lug carried by said member and having an aperture receiving one pivot pin, means to effect reciprocation of said member, a diamond carrier slidably supported by said member and including an interiorly threaded projection, and a feed screw rotatably supported by said member in operative engagevment with said projection, said feed screw having an exposed portion for effecting rotation thereof.

LEOPOLD I-I. STERNE. WINFRED N. LURCOTT. 

